NRL round seven: MELBOURNE 28 WARRIORS 18 at AAMI Park

VETERAN coach Warren Ryan called it “a try for the ages” – and it kept alive Melbourne Storm’s bid to complete an unbeaten run which will be remembered for ages.

The Storm’s bid for their 15th consecutive win, and edge closer to the record of 19 by the 1975 Eastern Suburbs side, looked doomed when they trailed the Warriors at AAMI Park last night 18-16 with nine minutes left.

But centre Will Chambers made a break deep in his own half and finished if off himself after a pass near halfway by Cooper Cronk after before Cameron Smith goaled from the sideline to edge the premiers back in front.

“I just saw a bit of space down there and thought I’d try my luck. I actually thought it was Billy inside but it was Cooper,” Chambers said.

Billy Slater then scored a sizzling try from a scrum to make sure of it in front of a 25,480 Anzac day crowd

A thrilling first half concluded with Warriors winger Bill Tupou crossing in the corner within seconds of the siren sounding, the conversion waved away to leave the scores at 10-10.

Each side made late changes for the Anzac Day clash, Justin O’Neill coming into the centres for Melbourne’s Junior Sau and the Warriors also omitting a participant in last Saturday’s Tonga-Samoa Test, Glen Fisiahii.

Melbourne were the first to breach the opposition defensive line, with Slater slicing through but the Warriors big contingent in the capacity crowd roared its approval when the Aucklanders scored first.

Video referees Steve Clark and Justin Morgan had to make sure there had not been a knock-on in the air before back rower Ben Henry claimed a bomb to plunge over, with halfback Shaun Johnson adding the extras.

Storm coach Craig Bellamy would have been pleased Chambers hit back at 11 minutes but less impressed that the dual-code star ignored supports inside and out before touching down off a Cronk cutout pass.

Captain Cameron Smith converted for 6-6 and Matthew Elliott’s men went on to blow chances on each side of the field when Ngani Laumape and Tupou were unable to take passes when faced with clear air.

A hit from Kevin Locke jolted the ball from Mahe Fonua’s grasp just as he was about to score in the corner at 30 minutes but he soon made good on his mistake by following up his double for Tonga the previous week with another touchdown.

After Laumape spilled a Gareth Widdop bomb on one side, Fonua scrambled over on the other for 10-6.

Five-eighth Widdop executed a magnificent ankle-tap of a flying Johnson just before halftime but it was to no avail as Tupou negotiated a narrow corridor for a touchdown which could not be converted.

The deadlock was broken 13 minutes into the second half, visiting fans cheering home Johnson on a 60 metre run to the line which finished with a converted try between the posts.

Melbourne had managed just five wins from their last 11 starts against the Warriors, who had fallen to a second half collapse in their previous start against Canberra.

The Warriors’ chests were briefly puffed out – but the lead was short-lived, however.

A couple of minutes later, Cronk kicked into the right corner and the Warriors defence seemed to have the bouncing Steeden well-covered.

But the kick bisected the two scrambling Aucklanders and bounced almost miraculously into the arms of Storm winger Sisa Waqa, who bagged his second try of the year.

The conversion tied the scores in an epic struggle, 16-16

Johnson’s 77th minute penalty goal kicked from around 15 metres to the left of the souther posts, edged the Aucklanders in front once more.

After another superb display, Cronk gave credit to the decisive tryscorer, “We’ve got some speed out there and Will played fantastic tonight”